ADHD Rx Tied to Fewer Injuries in Kids with Disorder

(HealthDay News) — Taking medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might reduce the risk of young patients accidentally injuring themselves, new research suggests. The findings, published online December 15 in Pediatrics, applied to both girls and boys.

The researchers compared the medical records of 4,934 children and teens, aged 6–19, who had at least one prescription for methylphenidate and went to the emergency department for trauma at least once between 2001–2013. Children who also took the ADHD drug atomoxetine (Strattera) were not included.

The patients had 8,428 trauma-related emergency department admissions overall. The trauma types weren't noted, but these visits acted as a stand-in for risk of physical injury, the authors said. Of the emergency department visits, 6,416 occurred when patients were not taking methylphenidate, compared to more than 2,012 visits among those taking the medication. After considering patients' ages and the season in which they were injured (injuries occur more frequently in the warmer months, according to past research), the researchers found that children and teens taking methylphenidate were about 9% less likely to injure themselves than those not taking the drug.

Put another way, for every 88 children taking methylphenidate, one child's injury would be prevented, the researchers calculated. Older teens were especially less likely to go to the emergency department for trauma while taking ADHD medication. The risk for those aged ≥16 dropped 32% while on methylphenidate, compared to a 7% drop for younger children. Meanwhile, children's likelihood of going to the emergency department for reasons other than trauma was not different when on or off their medication.